Sostenuto mechanism for pianos.



A. ARIANI.

SOSTENUTO MECHANSM FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY 6. Ism.

Patented M 1917.

3 SHEETS- l.

A. ARIANI.

SOSTENUTO MECHANISM FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION man JULY 6,1914.

1,224,437. Patented May 1, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. ARlANI.

SOSTENUTO MECHANSM FOR PIANOS.

APPLxcATloN man JULY 6.19m.

1 ,224,437. Patented May 1, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ADRIANO ARIANI,

F NEW YORK, N. Y.

SOSTENUTO MECHANISM FOR PIANOS.

Specification or" Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1917.

Application filed July 6, 1914. Serial N o. 849,096.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADRIANO ARIANI, a subject of the King of Italy,residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SostenutoMechanism for Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

, rllhis invention relates to sostenuto mecha- .v nism for pianos andlike instruments.

An object of this invention is to provide, mechanism under the controlof the performer for positioning in sustained position the damper ordampers of the string or strings corresponding to the tone or tonesdesired to be sustained and for retaining at will the damper positioningmeans in sustained position and independently of the loud pedal of thepiano or other string instrument, and preferably by the provision ofmeans whereby the normal touch of the key-board is fully preserved. Inthe usual preferred forms of my invention7 the sostenuto pedal imparts apredetermined movement to a sostenuto frame carrying striking devicesadapted to strike positioning elements corresponding respectively to thekeys of the key-board and thereby position in sustained position thecorresponding damper of any key desired to be sustained, said strikingdevices being arranged to be individually operated by actuating membersindividually controlled by th-e respective keys. In the more preferredforms of my invention, the actuation of the damper positioning means iseffected at a time instant in advance of the time instant at which thesostenuto frame reaches its terminal position.

By my invention, the loud pedal may be operated to secure the desiredfortissimo eifects subsequent or prior to the operation of the sostenutomechanism, and upon the release of said loud pedal while the sostenutopedal is still held in operated position, the sostenuto mechanism willnot be affected in any way and solely the desired tone or tones will besustained. Furthermore, myl invention secures the improved advantagethat upon proper subsequent operation of the sostenuto mechanismsubsequent to the striking of the keys corresponding to the tonesdesired to be sustained, the action of all other keys with respect tothe hammers, dampers, etc., will not be disturbed or interfered with,thereby fully preserving the normal operation of such other keys and notaffecting in the slightest degree the touch of the same.

Other features and advantages will be more fully understood from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1is a diagrammatic sectional elevation showing one embodiment of myinvention; the parts of my sostenuto mechanism and the ordinary parts ofthe piano corresponding to a single key being shown in neutral position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 1 indicating thesostenuto mechanism in sustained position and causing the damper of thestring corresponding to the struck key to be held in raised position;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the frame of certain parts of thesostenuto mechanism indicated in the preceding figures;

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating the operation of my sostenuto mechanismby means of a sostenuto pedal; and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View.

Referring to the drawings, the hammer 1 is operated by the key 2 by theusual operating means, the type of piano action illustrated being thatof a grand piano. The damper 3 of key 2 is controlled thereby throughthe intermediation of the damper lever d and damper rod 5. These partsand such other parts necessary for securing their operation are of theusual construction and need not be more specifically referred to herein.

The sostenuto mechanism constituting my invention comprises theactuating member 6, shown carried by the key 2, and it will beunderstood that each key is similarly provided with such actuatingmember 6. In suitable relation to the members 6 of the keys is providedthe sostenuto frame 7, shown as constituted of the forward rail 8 andrearward rail 9, (Fig. 3) and transverse partition members 10. Thesepartition members 10 form compartments corresponding to the respectivekeys of the key-board, and within each compartment is pivotally orotherwise movably suspended a striking device 11, shown as having thehead-piece 12 and tailpiece 13. Each striking device 11 is providedadjacent the end of its tail-piece 13 with the tripping element 14projecting beyond tail-piece 13. Preferably, the tripping element 14 ispivotally carried by tail-piece 13, as by means of the wire frame15p-see lilo Fig 5 to permit the return movement of tripping element 1-1without affecting the position of striking device 11 relative to theframe 7.

In the drawings, I have indicated an ordinary damper or loud pedalarrangement, such as is shown in the United States Patent No. 164,052,Steinway, granted June 1, 187 5, comprising the rail 40 exposed to theaction of the damper pedal acting on the rod 41.

The frame 7 is guided by any suitable guiding means, such as the set ofguide projections or strips 16, 17, carried by the opposite sides ot thepiano case, and the movement of f ame 7 in the opposite sets of guidestrips 16, 17, may be controlled by a sostenuto pedal 18, as forexample, by the link 19, bell crank 20 and link 21. The 'lrame 7 may bereturned to neutral position by means of the spring 22 having one endsecured at any suitable fixed point 23 and its other end connected tothe lever 21 in turn connected to link 21 by means of link 25.

Suitably positioned with respect to each striking device 11 for thecorresponding keys and wires there is provided damper positioningmechanism, shown as comprising oscillating stops 30, respectivelycorresponding to the keys of the key-board and shown respectivelypivotally supported on individual studs within individual compartmentsof the lixed bar 31, the sides of each compartment rictionally holdingthe oscillating stop therein positioned in normal or upright position.Each damper rod 5 is provided with a catch-piece 32, preferablyadjustably positioned thereon as by adjusting screws 33, 33, and eachcatch-piece 32 is provided with the recess 34C cooperating with the head35 of the corresponding stop 30. The compartments for the several stops30 are shown as formed from a strip of wood or similar material which iscut away eX- cepting at the part indicated as hatched in the drawings;however, it will be clear-that such compartments may be `formed by meansof a strip having the construction indicated by the said hatched portionand spaced partitions projecting from said portion at proper intervals.The bar 31 may be supported by the sides of the piano case in anysuitable manner.

lV e will assume that the key 2 indicated in the drawings has beenstruck, thereby causing the corresponding hammer 1 to strike thecorresponding string 36, and also to effect the raising of thecorresponding damper 3 by means of the-damper lever 11 and damper rod 5.Upon operation of the sostenuto pedal 18 at the proper instant, the:trame 7 will be moved to the left, as viewed in the drawings, and thetripping element 1-1- will encounter the projecting 'portion ofactuating member 6, as indicated in Fig. 2. Upon continued movement offrame 7 in such left hand direction, the striking device 11 will beoscillated to the position indicated by the dotted lines, therebycausing stop 3Q to be oscillated in the direction of arrow 37. Uponrelease of the key 2, he damper 3 and catch piece 32 will descend to apoint at which the head 35 of stop 30 will engage the upper wall ofrecess 34, whereupon the damper 3 will be held in sustained position, asshown in Fig. 2. In the interim, the frame 7 under action olf thesostenuto pedal 18 will have continued its movement to its terminalposition indicated in tull lilies in Fig. 2, and the tripping element1-1 will be tree trom engagement with the actuating member 6. The pail38 o1 felt or like material is provided to deaden the rebound ofstriking piece 11 after striking the stop 30. For simplification, wewill assume that the tone corresponding to the indicated key 2 is thesole rtone desired to be sustained. During such operation et the frame 7from its neutral position indicated in Fig. 1 to the terminal positionindicated in Fig, 2, the striking devices 11 of all other keys will havebeen moved without affecting their respective stops 30, and accordinglythe damper 3 of the key 2 will be the only damper in raised position. Itwill be noted that in movement ot the striking devices 11 of the otherkeys, no interference whatever will take place between the stops 30 ofsuch other keys and the remaining parts oit the sostenuto mechanism. Itwill be further noted that when the frame 7 has been moved to its finalposition, the loud pedal may be operated as usual, with respect to allkeys of the piano, but when the loud pedal has been released while thesostenuto pedal 18 has been held in sustained position, the stop 30 ofsaid particular key 2 will still effect the sustainingr of the tonecorresponding thereto, and all the remaining stops 30 will have beenreturned to normal position.

Upon release of the sustenuto pedal 18 the spring 22 will return the'trame 7 from the position indicated in Fig. 2 to the position indicatedin Fig. 1. For the purpose ol precluding any interference of theoperating parts or otherwise affecting the touch of the keys withrespect to the performer, the pivotal connection of tripping element 1-1is provided, whereby any tripping element 14` corresponding to any keywhich may hapv pen to be struck prior to the full return of 'frame 7,will be merely turned in the clockwise direction as indicated by thearrow 39, without sensible engagement with its corresponding strikingdevice 11, or otherwise affecting the normal touch oli the key-board. Asindicated, tripping element 1-1- is preterably couliter-weighted by theupper portion 4:0. 1t is preferred to provide the free end of trippingelement 14 with a point having one side flat and the other side curved,the fiat side being on the left of the several ligures, also to providethe :tree end ot actuating member 6 with a similar point the l-lat sidebeing on the right hand of the several iigures. Such points secure theadvantages of insuring the proper actuation of the striking device ordevices corresponding to the tone or tones desired to be sustained,while permitting freedom of movement of the striking device of any keywhich may have been struck soon after the striking of the keyscorresponding to the sustained tones.

It vvill be noted that the recess 3i is so shaped that the damper rod i3may be raised under action of the loud pedal, Without disturbing thestop 30; accordingly, nnen the loud pedal is released While thesostenuto pedal is still held in operative position, the stop 30 Willagain engage the upper vrall of recess 34, holding damper 3 aivay fromthe string 36, thereby still preserving the sustained effect oit' thetone corresponding to the string 36.

Each operated damper stop 30 is returned to neutral position by theaction of the tor- Ward rail 8 encountering the base of such operateddamper stop 30 upon the return movement of frame 7 under action ot thespring 22, as above described.

Whereas l have illustrated my invention in relation to a grand piano, itWill be understood that similar sostenuto mechanism may be provided forupright and other types of pianos to maintain the dampers aivay trom thestrings corresponding to the tones desired to be sustained. it will beunderstood that the members 6 need not be carried directly by therespective keys, but may be otherwise suitably controlled to be movedinto proper position relative to the striking devices upon movement ofthe keys.

From the foregoing, it will be clear that my sostenuto mechanism isentirely independent of the l-oud7 pedal, and that the operation of mysostenuto mechanism does not ai'ect in any Way the touch nor the normaloperation of the piano action.

iVhereas I have illustrated my invention by reference to speciiio formsthereof, it Will be clear that many changes and modifications may bemade Without departing from my invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. Thecombination With a key operated string instrument having dampers for thestrings, of sostenuto mechanism comprising a movable support, guides forsaid supp-ort, means for imparting movement to said support, strikingdevices mounted on said support, damper stops mounted to be movedrespectively by said striking devices and means controlled by the keysfor actuating said striking devices.

2. The combination With a key operated string instrument having dampersfor the strings, of sostenuto mechanism comprising a support movablealong a predetermined path, guides for said support, means for movingsaid support along said guides, striking devices mova'bly mounted onsaid supp-ort, damper stops mounted to be moved respectively by saidstriking devices, and means controlled by the keys for individuallyactuating said striking devices.

3. The combination With a key-operated string instrument having dampersfor the strings, of sostenuto mechanism comprising a support movablealong a predetermined path, striking devices movably mounted on saidsupport, damper st-ops mounted to be moved respectively by said strikingdevices, means for mounting said damper stops, means for moving saidsupport along said predetermined path and means controlled by therespective keys for actuating corresponding striking devices When saidmovable support passes an intermediate position of its path.

4:. The combination with a key operated string instrument having dampersfor the strings, of sostenuto mechanism comprising a movable support,means for moving said support, striking devices, means for mounting saidstriking devices on said support to effect rotational movement, damperstops mounted to be respectively moved by said striking devices andmeans individually controlled by the keys for individually actuating thecorresponding striking devices.

5. The combination with a key operated string instrument having dampersfor the strings, of sostenuto mechanism comprising a movable support,means for moving said support along a predetermined path, striking.devices, means for mounting said striking devices on said support toeiiect rotational movement, damper stops mounted to be respectivelymoved by said striking devices, and means individually controlled by thekeys for individually actuating said striking` devices when saidsupp-ort passes an intermediate point along said predetermined path.

6. The combination With a key operated string instrument having dampersfor the strings, of sostenuto mechanism comprising a movable support,means for moving said support along a predetermined path, strikingdevices, means for pivotally mounting said striking devices on saidsupport, damper stops mounted to be respectively moved by said strikingdevices, and means individually controlled by the keys for respectivelyactuating said striking devices.

7. The combination with a key operated string instrument having dampersfor the strings, of sostenuto mechanism comprising a sostenuto rail,means for moving said rail,

fixed guides for guiding the movement of said rail along a predeterminedpath, striking devices mounted side by side en said rail, damper stopsarranged side by side of one another, pivotal mounting means for saiddamper stops and means individually controlled by keys :tor respectivelyactuating said striking devices.

8. The combination with a key operated string instrument having dampersfor the strings, oit' sostenuto mechanism comprising a sostenuto rail,means for moving said rail, iixed means for guiding said rail along apredetermined path, striking devices, means .for pivotally suspendingsaid striking devices on said rail, damper stops corresponding to saidstriking devices, means for mounting said damper stops respectivelyabove said striking devices and means controlled respectively by thekeys for actuating said striking devices disposed respectively beloivsaid striking devices.

9. The combination With a key operated string instrument having dampersior the strings, of sostenuto mechanism comprising a sostenuto rail,means for bodily moving said sostenuto rail, striking devices providedwith individual means for holding the same in normal position, means forpivotally mounting said striking devices side-by-side on said sostenutorail, and damper stops actuated by said striking devices.

10. The combination with a key operated string instrument having dampersfor the strings, of sostenuto mechanism comprising a sostenuto rail,means for bodily moving said sostenuto rail in a predetermineddirection, striking devices provided With individual counter-Weightingmeans, means for pivotally mounting said striking devices on saidsostenuto rail, and damper stops respectively actuated by said strikingdevices.

ll. The combination with a key operated string instrument having dampersand damper stops for the strings, of a sostenuto rail, striking'devicesfor effecting the movement of said damper stops, said striking devicesbeing movably mounted on said rail, said striking devices respectivelyhaving individual projectingvportions and means for pivotally mountingsaid projecting portions respectively on said striking devices.

l2. The combination With a key operated string instrument having dampersand damper stops for the strings, of a sostenuto rail, striking devicesfor effecting the movement of said damper stops, said striking devicesbeing movably mounted on said rail, said striking devices respectivelyhaving an enlarged counter-weighting portion and a loiver projectingportion and means for pivotally mounting said projecting portionsrespectively on said striking devices.

3. rlhe combination with a plurality of keys and dampers and damperstops corresponding thereto, of a sostenuto rail, means For moving saidrail, striking devices respectively etl'ecting the movement ot saiddamper stops, said striking devices being movably mounted on said railand actuating members individually controlled by said keys and mountedto respectively engage said striking devices upon movement of said rail.

lll. The combination With a plurality of keys and dampers and 'damperstops corresponding thereto, of a sostenuto rail, means for moving saidrail, striking devices respectively eiiecting the movement of saiddamper stops, said striking devices being movably mounted on said rail,actuating members individually controlled by said eys and meanscontrollin(Y said striking devices and arranged to be respectivelyengaged by said actuating means upon movement of said sostenuto rail ina certain direction, said controlling means being ineli'ective upon themovement of said rail in another direction.

15. The combination with a plurality of keys, dampers and damper stops,of a sostenuto rail, means for moving said rail, striking devicesrespectively eifecting the movement of said damper stops, said strikingde-v vices being mo-vably mounted on said rail, actuating membersrespectively carried by said keys and means respectively carried by saidstriking devices for moving said striking devices upon movement of saidsostenuto rail in a certain direction, said controlling means beingineffective upon movement of said sostenuto rail in the oppositedirection.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftivo subscribing Witnesses.

ADRIANO ARIANI.

lVitnesses:

HENRY J. LUCKE, K. Gr. LEARD.

Copies o! this patent may be obtained for five cents each,l byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

